[miller0331]

You know... On active duty I never really used a hatchet/axe/tomahawk but I did have a Cold Steel shovel. Now that was a handy tool! Sharpen the edge and you had a great hatchet not to mention having a wood handle made digging a lot easier than the issue E tool. No ammo crate stood a chance and man! It really could pry a fire door off of its hinges. Also, I never really noticed the additional weight after a while.

I still have it and carry it all the time when hunting. It's dug me out of more than one mud hole, chopped down its share of trees, dug snow caves, punched holes in ice and split lots of firewood. It's a little battered but I think it'll last me the rest of my life.

I think back to "All Quiet on the Western Front" when the old Sergeant is advising the fresh meat about trench fighting and tells them about "sharpening the edge of their shovels... Now that! (taking a swing) Will split a man in two...".

Anyway, my two cents worth...